Associated Press - October 1, 2009 4:45 PM ET
MILES CITY, Mont. (AP) - Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks says an infectious viral disease has surfaced in resident white-tailed deer in the southeast part of the state.
The agency has received reports of epizootic hemorrhagic disease, or EHD, from Glendive, Savage, Sidney, Circle, Brockway, Angela and Rock Springs.
EHD and the bluetongue virus are basically indistinguishable. Biting flies transmit both diseases and the disease is seasonal and usually occurs late summer or early fall. A hard freeze can kill the insects and stop the spread of the disease.
To date no extensive die-offs have been reported in southeastern Montana.
The state agency says humans are not at risk by handling infected deer, eating venison from infected deer or being bitten by infected flies.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
